Upgraded to a new iPhone but have finished the setup and want to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud? Don't worry about that. There are 5 other methods that can help you transfer your contacts to your new iPhone with ease. Then you don't need to reset your new device again.
- Part 1: How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone Without iCloud via AirDrop
- Part 2: How to Transfer Contacts to New iPhone Without iCloud via iReaShare Phone Transfer
- Part 3: How to Move Contacts from iPhone to iPhone Using iTunes
- Part 4: How to Send Contacts from One iPhone to Another Using Email
- Part 5: How to Transfer Contacts from One iPhone to Another Without iCloud via Gmail
- Part 6: FAQs About Transferring Contacts Between iPhones Without iCloud
Take a quick look at these methods' pros and cons:
| Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| AirDrop |
Wireless & Direct: No cables or internet needed. |
Limited Quantity: Best for a few contacts; tedious for many. |
| iReaShare Phone Transfer |
Bulk Transfer: Easily moves all contacts at once. |
Requires Computer: Software needs to be installed on a PC/Mac. Paid Software: Free version can transfer 10 contacts. |
| iTunes | Comprehensive: Transfers all contacts along with other data. Reliable: Apple's official desktop management tool. No Internet (during transfer): Backup and restore are local. |
Overwrites Data: Wipes the new iPhone's current content. |
| Simple & Universal: No special apps or cables. Works Over Distance: Can send contacts to remote locations. Free: Uses existing email service. |
Manual Process: One contact at a time; impractical for many. Requires Internet: Both sending and receiving need connectivity. Potential for Spam/Errors: Human error in recipient. |
|
| Gmail | Cloud Backup: Contacts are stored in the cloud (Gmail). Multi-Device Sync: Keeps contacts updated across devices. Convenient: Automatically syncs in the background after setup. Free: Uses your existing Gmail account. |
Requires Internet: Continuous sync needs connectivity. Third-Party Reliance: Depends on Google's service. Initial Sync Time: Can take time for first sync with many contacts. |
Part 1: How to Transfer Contacts from iPhone to iPhone Without iCloud via AirDrop
AirDrop offers a quick and convenient way to transfer individual or multiple contacts between iPhones when they are in close proximity. This method is ideal for those who only need to share a few contacts or both devices are close to each other.
Here's how to share contacts from iPhone to iPhone via AirDrop:
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Swipe down from the top-right corner (for iPhones with Face ID) or up from the bottom (for iPhones with Touch ID) to open Control Center. Then press and hold the network settings card in the top-left corner.
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Tap "AirDrop" and select "Contacts Only" or "Everyone" on both devices. "Contacts Only" is generally more secure if both users are in each other's contacts.
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On the source iPhone, open the "Contacts" app, tap on the contact you wish to send, scroll down and tap "Share Contact".
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Select "AirDrop" from the sharing options. Choose the name of the recipient iPhone when it appears.
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On the target iPhone, a notification will pop up asking if you want to "Accept" the incoming contact. Tap "Accept". The contact will then be added to your contacts list.
Part 2: How to Transfer Contacts to New iPhone Without iCloud via iReaShare Phone Transfer
When you need to transfer a large number of contacts, or even all data, a dedicated phone transfer tool can be incredibly efficient. iReaShare Phone Transfer is created to streamline this process, allowing for one-stop transfers and broader compatibility.
Main features of iReaShare Phone Transfer:
* Seamlessly transfer all contacts from one iPhone to another without iCloud.
* Support various data types for iOS to iOS transfer, including contacts, calendars, bookmarks, and books.
* Streamline the data transfer from Android to Android, iOS to Android, and vice versa.
* Allow you to select data types before transferring data.
* Compatible with iOS 5.0 and upper, including the latest iOS 26.
* Android 6.0 and later are supported.
Download iReaShare Phone Transfer.
Download for Win Download for Mac
Here's how to transfer contacts from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud or iTunes:
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Download the iReaShare Phone Transfer tool to your computer. Install it according to the on-screen instructions.
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Open the iReaShare Phone Transfer application. Connect both your old iPhone and your new iPhone to your computer using their respective USB cables.
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Ensure that your old iPhone is recognized as the "Source" device and your new iPhone as the "Target" device. If they are in the wrong positions, use the "Flip" button to correct them. Then check the "Contacts" option.
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Click "Start Copy" to proceed. Your contacts will be imported to your new iPhone directly.
Here's the video guide you can follow:
Part 3: How to Move Contacts from iPhone to iPhone Using iTunes
iTunes, while more traditionally used for syncing and backups, can also be a viable method to transfer contacts between iPhones. This method involves backing up your old iPhone and then restoring that backup to your new iPhone. However, the restored data will overwrite your current data on your destination iPhone.
Here's how:
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Ensure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your computer. Connect your old iPhone to your computer using a USB cable.
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Open iTunes, and click on the device icon that appears in iTunes. Under "Backups", select "This Computer", and click "Back Up Now". Wait for the backup process to complete.
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After that, connect your new iPhone to the computer. Then click the iPhone icon. In the "Summary" interface, click "Restore Backup" to restore your contacts and other data to your new iPhone.
Tips: You can back up your contacts if you don't want to transfer to your new iPhone temporarily.
Part 4: How to Send Contacts from One iPhone to Another Using Email
For transferring a small number of contacts without any special software or cables, email is a simple and universally accessible option.
To send contacts from one iPhone to another without iCloud via email:
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On your source iPhone, please open the Contacts app, and select the contacts you wish to send.
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Scroll down and tap "Share Contact". Select "Mail" from the sharing options.
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Enter your own email address (or the recipient's email address if you're sending to someone else) in the "To" field. Add a subject if desired. Tap the "Send" button. The contact will be attached as a .vcf (vCard) file.
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On the target iPhone, open the "Mail" app and access the email you just sent. Tap on the .vcf attachment. A preview of the contact will appear. Tap "Create New Contact" or "Add to Existing Contact".
Part 5: How to Transfer Contacts from One iPhone to Another Without iCloud via Gmail
If you use Gmail for your contacts, or are willing to sync your iPhone contacts with Gmail, this can be an effective way to transfer them. This method involves syncing contacts from your old iPhone to Gmail and then syncing them from Gmail to your new iPhone.
To sync contacts from iPhone to iPhone without iCloud using Gmail:
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On your old iPhone, sync contacts to Gmail. Please go to Settings> "Contacts" > "Accounts" > "Add Account" (if you haven't added your Gmail account already).
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Select "Google" and sign in with your Gmail credentials. Make sure the "Contacts" toggle is turned ON for your Gmail account. Your iPhone contacts will start syncing with Gmail. Allow some time for the sync to complete, especially if you have many contacts.
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On your new iPhone, sync contacts from Gmail. Add the same Gmail account to the new iPhone like in step 1. Ensure the "Contacts" toggle is turned ON for this Gmail account. Your contacts from Gmail will now sync to your new iPhone.
Part 6: FAQs About Transferring Contacts Between iPhones Without iCloud
Q1: Can I export iPhone contacts to a SIM card?
While you can import contacts from a SIM card to an iPhone, you CANNOT directly export contacts from an iPhone to a SIM card. Apple designs iPhones to store contacts primarily on the device itself or, more commonly and ideally, synced with cloud services like iCloud, Google Contacts, or other email accounts.
Q2: What if some contacts are missing after transfer?
- Here's what to do, starting with the simplest solutions:
Check Your Contacts App "Groups" Filter:
* Open the Contacts app on your new iPhone.
* In the top-left corner, tap "Lists" (or "Groups" if you're on an older iOS version).
* Make sure "All Contacts" or all relevant accounts (e.g., "All iPhone," your Gmail account, etc.) are checked. If only one group is selected, others will be hidden. Tap "Done". - Check All Accounts for Contacts:
* Go to Settings > Contacts > Accounts.
* Here, you'll see all email and other accounts configured on your iPhone.
* Tap on each account (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo).
* Ensure that the "Contacts" toggle is turned ON for every account that might contain your contacts. If it was off, turn it on and see if the missing contacts appear. You may need to give it a few moments to sync. - Restart your iPhone.
- Re-perform the Transfer: If you use one way that make some contact lost, you can use another to transfer your contacts again.
Conclusion
Even if you don't want to use iCloud to transfer your contacts between iPhones, there are still multiple effective methods you can use. If you would like to copy all contacts at once, don't miss iReaShare Phone Transfer, which is suitable for bulk transfer, saving you time for data migration between mobile devices. Thanks for reading.
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